Rules and Regulations

We live in a society of rules. There are laws that we live by. Without them it would be chaos, and anarchy. Any society that values freedom must also value law. Though it is often viewed negatively, we are blessed to have a society that protects its citizens through a system of law (Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalm 94:12; Proverbs 29:18).
The Ten Commandments were given to a nation as part of a covenant blessed by God (Exodus 20:1-17). The law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai was part of that blessing. It set in stone an outline of relationship between God and others. How God expects us to relate to Him, and how we are to relate to others is the subject of the Ten Commandments. Rules and regulations have corresponding rights and responsibilities.The rule not to steal corresponds to the right of ownership. Not to lie carries the responsibility and right of truth telling.
Many view law as a negative thing. It is God’s way of cramping our style, raining on our parade, and generally ruining any chance for fun we might have. Rightly viewed however, it is a blessing provided out of love and a desire to protect us. The laws of God are meant to enhance our life experience, not hinder free expression. Every “Thou Shalt Not” carries blessing. Every society that follows the principles of the Ten Commandments find order, safety, and security. Alternatively, a nation without law is a nation in distress.
The Ten Commandments give us rules not only to tell us how to live with one another, they tell us how to live in relationship with God. God commands us to worship Him alone (Exodus 20:3) because he knows that worship of any other thing degrades us. He commands us to revere His name (Exodus 20:7) because He knows that failure to hallow the name of God is symptomatic of people void of the sense of the truly sacred. The command to keep a day of rest (Exodus 20:8) is given as a blessing to us, for apart from rest and worship we unravel (Isaiah 58:13-14).
When asked what was the greatest law, Jesus summed up the whole of God’s rules and regulations with two commands. Love God, and Love your fellow man (Matthew 22:36-40). The two are interrelated. If we fail to love our brother, we really do not love God (1 John 3:10, 4:20-21). The whole of the law is applied in its many parts under the grand heading of Love. Love and law go hand in hand. It was God’s love that gave us the law. Our expression of love to God and neighbor is seen in how we keep the particulars of the law (Romans 13:10).

Stay Away From the Edge

Jesus was tempted but without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Temptation itself is not sin. Yielding to temptation, however,is most definitely sin (Genesis 4:7). Our desires pull at us, yes, but that is not all. The devil joins chorus with the desires we have that would pull us away from obedience to God (Genesis 3:1-6; 2 Corinthians 2:11). Desires in themselves are not wrong (Psalm 37:4). It is where those natural desires take us away from the proper and lawful fulfillment of those desires that we run into problems (John 8:44). God has blessed us with laws and commands that keep us from self-destructive paths (Psalm 119:105). He has set boundaries for us. They are like guiderails to to keep us away from the precipice of sin (Psalm 37:31). If we keep on the path, we do well and God is with us (John 8:12; 1 John 1:7). If we crash through the guiderails we fall into sin and no longer walk the path of God (1 John 1:5-6).

The edge is where temptation lies (James 1:13-14). Trying to follow the Lord, but also traveling so close to the edge is where many Christians find trouble. Walking the path of obedience, but so close to the edge that they are only one step away from the precipice (Deuteronomy 11:16). Desires pull at us and the devil yells “Jump.” We can still walk on the road, but the temptation pulls. Temptation is strongest at the edge where the pull of desire is strongest and the call of Satan is loud (1 John 2:15-17).

Why is it that so many walk along the edge. We want to push the boundaries until we finally break through. If we would walk in the center of the path there would not be so much pull. The danger of sin is not so great when we center ourselves on the path (Psalm 16:11, 27:11, 119:32). If we turn to the right or the left, we get closer to the edge. Oh for that great middle way (Deuteronomy 5:32; Joshua 1:7). If temptation is strong, why not move away from the edge. Hear the warning of the law that says, “Stay Back!” Listen for the voice of God that says “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). Remember others who have traveled the edge and broken through. Let them be a warning to you (Zechariah 1:4-6). Stay away from the edge!

Fast Food

I like fast food, but fast food does not like me. It is notoriously high in calories and fat. When it comes to nutrition our home cooked food is usually the most nutritious. Similarly, when we look to spiritual fare, not everything that is quick,  attractively packaged,and  easily consumed is good for you. It may be convenient, but that does not mean it is nutritious. Nutritious fare that feeds us spiritually may take a little more time and effort, but the payoff is worth it. Those who really hunger for spiritual truth will examine the scriptures (Acts 17:11). If bread for the belly is important, how much more important is spiritual food (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4)?

There is no shortage of fast food joints that offer quick devotional material. Many are willing to offer prepackaged fare that is false and unhealthy (Jeremiah 8:8; 1 Timothy 6:3-5). It may look and sound good, but it is far from healthy. They may promise a delicious meal to eat, but in reality, it may not be all that good for you. It is our responsibility to seek healthy food (1 Peter 2:2). When we take the time to really dig in and study the Word of God we find it to be good food (Psalm 119:103; Jeremiah 15:16), If you are really hungry for good food, don’t settle for fast food. We are invited to a banquet table with the richest of fare, so why would we want to settle for that which really does not satisfy (Isaiah 55:2; Matthew 22:1-4).

Spiritual Surgery

The Bible addresses us as the Word of God. It has authority and power. It is meant to be obeyed and to show us the way (Psalm 119:101, 105). That is why it is called a light. It also  shines in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19) to show us who we are and where we come up short. God does this so that we will know ourselves more clearly and see what needs to be added or removed in our lives to fall in line with his will and to live lives pleasing to Him.

It is interesting that God's Word is sometimes referred to as a sword (Ephesians 6:17). A sword cuts, and sometimes it cuts both ways (Hebrews 4:12). Spiritually, God attends His Word with the Holy Spirit. When He speaks to us through His Word it is the job of the Holy Spirit to show us where we come up short and to make us feel the need to make things right. This is called conviction. God makes us sorry we have not done as we ought to have done things (2 Corinthians 7:10-13).

Conviction is meant to lead us to repentance and to separate us from sin (Matthew 3:8; Romans 2:4). As a sword it is able to cut through our defenses. God uses it to discipline and correct. Though tears may come when we realize our sin, joy comes as we begin to understand that it is not too late (Acts 11:18). God does not send conviction to those he has given up on. He sends conviction in order to work in us what is pleasing to him (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:21). He is a great craftsman. The more He works on us, the more we are made into His image. God performs precision surgery with his written Word. A Bible becomes a Surgical instrument so that we might be crafted into his workmanship. May our lives show that they have been transformed by the hand of the great surgeon (Titus 2:11-14).

learning a Lesson

Some lessons are easier to learn than others. To learn from another’s mistake is a better path to take than to go through the trouble of making your own. More often than not though, we have to learn lessons the hard way. Also, lessons learned the hard way usually involve swallowing your pride mixed with a good dose of humility.

A teachable spirit can take correction, and does not stiffen in the face of reproof (Proverbs 9:8, 15:12). Those who are prideful and refuse correction fail to learn (Proverbs 5:12-14), but those who can swallow their pride can benefit from reproof. It seems their is a direct correlation between pride and stupidity, and humility and wisdom (Proverbs 12:1).

The Bible speaks of discipline as a blessing; even a mark of God’s love (Job 5:17; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19). Scripture reproves us for our good (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15). In fact, the very essence of conversion involves repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). We have to humble ourselves before God. Only then can he lift us up (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).

Though it is no fun, we should be grateful for discipline. It means that God is working on us for our good (Hebrews 12:11). If we reject God’s discipline we fail to benefit from it. We are not willing to be corrected, and fail to learn our lesson. To continue down that path is disaster (1 Corinthians 11:32). We can be glad that God is a patient teacher. May we be humble and teachable under his hand. As good students, may we learn our lessons well.

Logos 4 Bible Software

 I have spent the last six weeks testing a new Bible software program. With the official release of Logos 4 today, I am free to share some highlights from what I consider to be the best Bible software on the market. Searches are fast and the results are ranked so you can quickly find items of interest. English and original language resources cooperate with each other in links and underlying data. the  program is user friendly, yet sophisticated. You can just type in a passage and click "GO" or you can do detailed and deep study using the tools that are built into the software.

I have been using Bible software for years. I bought several programs, and downloaded some free ones, but no single program seemed to have all I was looking for. Some provided good search capabilities, but lacked in resources. Some were strong in original languages, but had little to offer by way of devotional, or popular authors. Some programs were over technical and hard to learn, while others have been simplistic and less than ideal when trying to do complex searches. I was searching for one program that would do it all. Logos 4 has ended my search.

 The passage guide provides links to commentaries, cross references, media, and other resources that relate to particular Bible references. The Exegetical Guide allows you to bring original language resources to bear on a particular reference. Word studies reveal how a word is used in original and English language contexts. Passage Analysis can be done that compares version against version. Morphology can be seen graphically in the Morph River function.  Biblical people are shown in relationship with one  another  and events that occurred in their life. Biblical places provides important geographical and topical information, as well as media resources. Reading lists and plans can be used to read through books or do focused research on particular interests. Highlighting and notes can personalize and retain important study results, and clippings from articles of interest can be stored and retrieved later for research purposes. These and many more study options are available for the Software user.

Though some of these study tools are new to Logos, some are in software packages made available by other software vendors, but Logos has incorporated them in one software package and have invited user feedback to make them better.This approach has allowed them to be innovative. Criticism has not been dismissed, but used to make a better product. As a result, those who actually use the product on a daily basis have taken and active part in its design and development. Loyalty to the software is won out of a true desire to make the software what the user really wants. With this kind of interaction between company and consumer, Logos has accomplished its goal "to be the worldwide leader in electronic tools and resources for multilingual Bible study." They have certainly won me over! There is no other Bible software that even comes close to Logos 4.

Truth, Faith, and Reason

Reality rests on Truth. What is not true is a deception. Belief in God is faith in what is real. To question God is to cast doubt on truth. We tend to believe what we can see. Faith requires that we believe in what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). Unlike the scientific method, faith does not require tangible proof. That does not, however, mean that belief in God has no reasonable demonstration of proof. It is not unreasonable to take God's demonstrated trustworthiness through his Word as reason to believe. Has God ever lied? Has His Word ever failed?

Prophecy fulfilled, faith demonstrated and rewarded, miracles performed; All these point to the unseen God. The Bible in history is is a demonstration of the reality of God. The truth of who He is. When His word speaks history before it occurs (Lam. 3:37), the historical fact becomes testimony to the veracity and reality of God. God also vindicated the faith of individuals as he worked in their lives. Noah undertook a great building project, and God vindicated him. Abraham believed God and God vindicated his faith by fulfilling the promise of a son. The faith of Moses brought judgement upon Egypt, and lead the Hebrews out of oppression through parted waters. Miracles themselves are reasonable proofs of the  reality of God. An exception in consistent laws were used of God to display his almighty power, imminent involvement, and planning. They were testimony to the reality of God (Neh 9:17; John. 10:25; John 14:11; Heb. 2:4).

What is truth? What is real? Faith says God is real, not simply by the force of belief, as if wishing makes it so, but on the basis of reasonable evidence (Acts 26:25; 1 Peter 3:15). God has given us reason to believe in Him. If we still reject his testimony we judge him as untrue. We sit in judgement of His Word. It is this Word that will judge us in the end (John 12:48). When the truthfulness of God is found trustworthy, faith has found a resting place.  We can trust the Word of God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).